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| M15 SBS Payment Machine Breakdowns A Problem For Passengers (240966) | |||
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M15 SBS Payment Machine Breakdowns A Problem For Passengers |
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Posted by Gold_12TH on Fri Aug 12 03:07:49 2011 Video: NY1 newsThe Select Bus Service is lauded for its convenience. “You can get on the bus, you don’t have to wait for people to pay their fare. It’s a great service,” said rider Maria Nieves. However, some passengers are dealing with payment problems. In theory, the service is faster in part because passengers pay before boarding by swiping their MetroCards through vending machines and getting a ticket as proof of payment. However, Nieves said that in January she got on without a ticket because the machine at her stop was broken. “The bus was coming, so I felt since it was a monthly pass we had indeed paid our fare,” said Nieves. Metropolitan Transportation Authority rules say riders must have a ticket before boarding. Nieves got a summons during a random check. She wasn't about to pay. “I'm not going to lose time off, a vacation day, to go and fight the transit system. It's not fair,” said Nieves. She did some digging and found out something interesting: every time a MetroCard is used, it’s recorded in the system. The MTA can produce a printout showing all of a card’s transactions. Nieves had already tossed that card by the time she found out, though. She didn't have its number to get the printout that could help her. “It's back and forth, get this, get that. I called 311, I even called the transit authority — ‘oh no, I don't know what department.’ There's not enough information. They don't tell you how to get the information,” said Nieves. MTA officials said Nieves can send a letter requesting the service records for the machine she used the day she got her ticket. Still, that doesn’t help out in the immediate future. “If I don't have a ticket, I will not get on the bus,” said Nieves. Officials say that’s a good idea, because inspectors can't immediately verify whether a machine is out. Without a printed SBS ticket, officials say to wait for the local bus, even if it adds time. NY1 will continue to follow Maria Nieves’ story. |
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